Alternative Text

Describe what is important in your images so everyone can understand them.

Impact

Images, infographics, and data visualizations can be powerful tools for understanding information — especially for visual learners. But what about people who cannot see them?

Alternative text (or "alt text") is a short description of an image. It helps people who cannot see the image understand what it shows. They can be read aloud by screen readers or displayed on Braille devices.

Alt text makes sure that everyone (e.g., students, faculty, staff, and visitors) can get the same information, no matter how they access your website.

But alt text is not just for people with disabilities. It is also helpful:

  • when someone has a slow internet connection and images will not load
  • when someone wants to hear the description instead of see it
  • when someone needs additional guidance breaking down complex visual information
  • when you want to bring people to your page based on certain keywords (i.e., search engine optimization)
  • when you want artificial intelligence to generate more accurate results (e.g., identify objects)

Adding alt text is a small step that helps everyone, including you.

How to

Think of it like explaining an image to someone in a meeting or classroom. Just say what is important or the takeaways.

Decision Tree

To know how to best provide an alternative for an image, let us go through the decision tree:

Decision tree starting with the role dividing out to purely decorative and information, where decorative images need to be tagged as decorative

What is the purpose of the image?

  • Can the image be deleted without losing information?
  • Does the image provide additional mood, connection, or understanding?

If it is purely decorative, then select the image in Cascade CMS (or another web editor) and check the box for "Decorative Image".

Extending the same decision tree, does the image present additional information beyond the text on screen? If no, then decorative

New information in the image?

  • Is there text near the image that provides the same information?
  • This can be in the form of paragraphs, lists, and tables of text – not images of text.

If the information is already nearby, then select the image in Cascade CMS (or another web editor) and check the box for "Decorative Image".

Decision tree at type of information. Alt text for action images needs to be the label of the action, simple images needs short descriptions, and complex images needs summaries and equitable descriptions nearby

What type of information is provided?

  • Action Images (like buttons or icons)
    What to do: Use the Alt Text field to restate the action.
    Example: If the image says "Submit," your alt text should be: "Submit".
  • Simple Images (like photos or illustrations)
    What to do: Use the Alt Text field to describe the image briefly — aim for 155 characters or less.
    Example: "Student smiling while studying at a library table."
  • Complex Images (like charts, graphs, or infographics)
    What to do: Use the Alt Text field to give a short summary, and let users know where to find a longer description nearby (like in the surrounding text or a linked page).
    Example: "Chart showing enrollment growth. Full description below."

Additional guidance

You can learn more about providing good alternative text to an image through these accessibility guides:

EIR Accessibility Coordinator

Assistive Technology